Hyderabad: For the first time a ceiling on fee amount is likely to be imposed on the fee reimbursement scheme in Telangana. TS is expected to take a crucial decision on fee reimbursement and scholarships for students pursuing higher and professional education courses this week.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will hold discussions with Cabinet sub-committee to finalise eligibility norms in a couple of days. The committee headed by Deputy CM Kadiam Srihari holding the education portfolio already drafted the proposals and is expected to submit it to the CM in a day or two. The committee explored various options to bring down the burden of fee reimbursement on the state exchequer for which the applications have already crossed 11.5 lakh.
The government already owes payment of the fee arrears of the previous academic year (2014-15) amounting to nearly Rs 3,000 crore as it failed to finalise the eligibility norms with its flip flop on the FAST scheme stipulating 1956 as the cut off year for nativity which has subsequently withdrawn due to legal issues.
The nativity is now being determined based on Article 371(D). The government has been seeking applications from students for 2014-15 now, while it has to initiate the process for the present academic year 2015-16 also with the new academic year set to commence in July.
With the estimated burden accumulating to nearly Rs 6,000 crore this year, the state is exploring ways and means to bring it down. The committee has recommended to pay complete fee to only those students who secure below 5,000 rank in Eamcet, Icet etc. For others, it suggested to pay a certain percentage of the total fee, preferably 50 per cent.
